new xf86-input for macbooks and other multitouch-touchpads.

[DizzyTech]

Okay, I think I got it compiled. Really excited. As a matter of fact, xserver-xorg-dev was the first thing I installed - but I never did remove the 11-x11-synaptics.fdi file, though I had removed the synaptics driver through Synaptics (whoa... ).

As far as your questions:

1. This is a standard two-finger click, although it'll vary depending on how close they are.
2. Nothing. This is actually very pleasing about OS X, and a tiny bit jarring when using Linux. Leave your palm (or another finger) on the corner of the touchpad and it has zero effect.
3. A single-finger click. I actually do this a ton.
4. A two-finger click.

[kosumi68]

Thank you for the answers. Regarding number two on the list, I realize there was an ambiguity in the question, so lets split it into two:

2a: Place one finger in the center of the pad. Place one finger from the other hand at the very bottom of the pad and press. What happens?

2b: Place one finger in the center of the pad. Place one finger from the other hand at the very bottom of the pad, then press with the first finger. What happens?

[arturoc]

hi

have been giving a try to this, and think i have something more or less working as in mac os x.

the idea is not try to identify fingers by their absolute position or size (although comparing major and minor for the thumb at the bottom works more or less) but compare relative distance between fingers and amount of displacement in x and y for detecting the thumb.

attached is a test, the code is super ugly but works:

thumb at the bottom + one finger: moves and only the finger in the higher part controls the movement
thumb + one finger and press: drag and drop
thumb at the bottom + 2 fingers: vertical scroll
two fingers moving in y: vertical scroll
thum at the bottom + 2 fingers and press: right click
two fingers and press: right click

i think in mac os x it also has into account if one finger id was previously the finger at the bottom and keeps it even if there's no more fingers unless you pass some movement threshold in any direction.

[ejohney]

Wow, this is working great for me so far, thank you! I will keep testing and see what I find

[miatawnt2b]

installed the bcm5974, installed multitouch from git and removed the 11-x11-synaptics.fdi file from /usr/share/hal/fdi/policy/20thirdparty/

rebooted and I have no touchpad. What did I do wrong?

Thanks,
-J

[dennis.jarosch]

Has anybody gotten this to work with Lucid Lynx?

I have a MacBookPro5,5 and was able to check out and compile the current version of the mutitouch driver.

In order for it to be loaded by the xserver, I had to edit

/lib/udev/rules.d/66-xorg-synaptics.rules

and replace synaptics with multitouch. Since the xserver has migrated from hal to udev, editing the fdi file will no longer work.

The multitouch driver is now loaded but only clicking works. I cannot move the pointer and xev does not report any events.

Can anybody drop me a hint?

[kosumi68]

[...]
I have a MacBookPro5,5 and was able to check out and compile the current version of the mutitouch driver.
[...]
The multitouch driver is now loaded but only clicking works. I cannot move the pointer and xev does not report any events.

Can anybody drop me a hint?

Perhaps you are not running the mactel version of bcm5974? It is the only version out there with kernel MT support.

[NiñoScript]

I want to help here, but I have no idea how
I know how to program, but I'm just moving to Linux…

Can you tell me at least how to install what you have?
If I know how to do that, I could play a little with the code


I'm really sorry if my english is not so good

[dennis.jarosch]

Thanks kosumi,

You were correct. After installing bcm5974 from the Mactel PPA, the touchpad became usable. I noticed it is much more sensitive than with synaptics and most importantly (for me): taps aren't working.

I guess you are busy, but do you have any idea when taps-to-click will be implemented? Or is there already a way to configure the touchpad behavior? I have quickly scanned through the code, but haven't found anything yet.

I have never programmed Xorg related stuff, but if there's a way I can help out...

[NiñoScript]

So, I managed to compile it, I did:

make
sudo make install

I wanted to edit /lib/udev/rules.d/66-xorg-synaptics.rules but it wasn't there, so I created the file with

ENV{x11_driver}="multitouch"

in it…

Didn't work.

Can you help me install it?